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I WILL MARRY WHEN I WANT (1986)
(By Ngugi wa Thiong’o and Ngugi wa Mirii)
SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY
This play depicts the protest of peasants in Kenya after independence. It is the play that shows the plight (a difficulty and sad situation) of the peasant family like Kiguunda’s family. Kiguunda has only one and a half acre which he considers the basis of the family though the small piece of land is situated in the marginal area. The play dramatise high rate of exploitation as the foreigners use indigenous to exploit Kenyans as we see the multinational companies from abroad engineer people like Ahab Kioi wa Konoru to exploit fellow Africans. So the major attempt of this play is to dramatise high exploitation of workers and peasants by both the foreign capitalist and indigenous people who act as middlemen. The playwrights discuss the issues connected to neo-colonialism and its effects to the developing countries.
Thus this play is the criticism of the contemporary world where big companies from the developed countries in collaboration with the indigenous are exploiting the developing countries under the name of globalization so this play is generally an attack of neo-colonialism.
STRUCTURE OF THE PLAY
The play is made up by of three acts, where by act one is not divided into scenes, act two is divided into two scenes and act three has three scenes.
All these acts and scenes contain events as summarized here under:-
ACT 1
· At kingdom’s family, they are having a poor life. He has a square, mud
Walled white – ochred, one roomed house for the whole family. Gathon is using the floor as bed, where we see rags used as her bedding.
· 2nd Kiguunda and Wangeci are preparing for the visit (Kioi and his Wife Jezebel) Kiguunda mending the broken chain .In the process he cause the title dead fall on the floor He picked it and looked at it and proud of it but Wangeci never praised it as it is so small and the land itself is unproductive.
· The play writgt show the concept of drunkenness in the country especial people who have been dismissed from job.
· We see this through the dranker who passes by Kiguundas hou
se singing.
· He utters sarcastic words and starts to urinate such that Wangeci gets annoyed and chases him away.
· Another aspect in this act is Harambee for the churches and attempts the Christians to convert Wangeci.
· Kiguunda and Wangeci are against new religion and hate the Harambee which asks contributions for building churches from the poor.
· He says he doesn’t see the necessary of building church while it is used once a week. So Kiguunda chase away the group of singers.
· Conflict between Gathon and her mother, mother complains that Gathoni is busy doing her hair while she has a lot of domestic activities.
· Her mother tells her to help her but Gathon become furious
· She starts to complain of too much work and having not sent to school and the state of poverty where she uses the floor as her bed and the rages as her bedding
· She starts exchange bitter word with her mother and later her father shout at her in an intimidating manner
· The parents start discussing modern children that they have undergone moral decadence and they have no respect at all.
· Kiguunda and Wangeci discuss the problem of Wages after running shortage of salt. Hence he don’t have money to buy it
· They send Gathoni to Gicaamba to big salt. Kiguunda says the price of different things have gone so high while Wages have not risen
· K
iguunda complaining that they take long time working in farms of the rich people like Ikuua Wanditika and Kioi but they are paid low wages.
· Kiguunda says Ikuua and Kioi are exploiters hence calling them bedbugs.
· In this act we see the relationship between John Muhuuni and Gathoni;
· Wangeci says that Gathoni is misbehaving because of the relationship between her and John Muhuuni who keeps on hooting on the road in the presence of the parents. Gathoni goes to meet her boyfriend on the road.
· Wangeci later guess that perhaps the visiting of Kioi and Jezebel is to discuss about the marriage of John Muhuuni and their daughter. This was not the case to Kiguunda as he never thought of that.
· Gicaamba and Njooki are introduced in the play. They discuss the relationship between John Muhuuni and Gathoni
· Njooki caution them to tell Gathoni to cut relationship between her and John Muhuuni giving the reason that rich marry to the rich and poor to the poor so there won’t be any marriage as Gathoni and John do not belong to one class.
· They also discuss about the Wages and the way they are exploited in the factories and forms and they blame their fellow Africans like Ikuua and Kioi who work for the interest of the whites in Europe and America.
· We see the arrival of the expected guest plus two other people who make four guests in total ie Kioi, Jazebel, Samwel Ndugire and Helen who are well dressed. They start preaching and convince Kiguunda and Wangeci to be christain and go to the church to have their wedding blessed.
· Kiguunda get annoyed and chases them away. Wangeci blame him that he has done it in a hurried manner. She says he should have waited till they finish the full purpose of shier visitation.
· At the end of this act, Gathon comes in with new clothes and new shoes.
· Kiguunda and Wangeci are unhappy because they never bought their daughter those things so they become furious.
· Gathoni tells them that she has been requested by John to accompany him to Mombasa for a week.
· Kiguunda was completely annoyed but Gathoni never care about that she left them and go with John
· Wangeci calms her husband telling him to stop being dejected as she still have her illusion that the instance of Kioi to go to the church would probably mean to pave the way to the marriage of their daughter and John
ACT 2
SCENE I: Kiguunda brief Gicaamba and Njooki about Kios family that they want Gathoni and John Mhuuni to marry that’s why they want him and Wangeci to be Christian so
that the Marriage can be accepted.
– Gicaamba and Njooki do no accept
– Gicaamba tells them that they must avoid promises as promise doesnot mean delivery.Njooki stress by saying rich families never marry from poor families,Njooki still
says that true love between the two does not base on wealth or property.
– Gicaamba support her and shows his dejection against hypocrisy as people now a days just go church for fashion.
– Gicaamba shows hypocrisy and he says not only in marriage but also in churches. As he says when the rich dies they pray for him but when the poor man
die they don’t care about him/her and they don’t even pray for the burial ceremonies. That’s why Gicaamba add a proverb that “A rich man’s fart does not
stick” means that if someone is rich or a leader people do not consider his/her weakness.
– Gicaamba is against Christian marriage claiming that even the tradition wedding has blessings.
– Gicaamba says the new religion brought by the whites intend to soften the Africans so as to get an easy way to penetrate and exhaust Africans by establishing what they
want citing the way African religious leaders to the detention. Camps like Manyani, Mageta, Hola etc to facilitate the process of weakening the freedom fighter.
– Trying to persuade people to betray others by their secret but some refused like Wanjeri.
– Finally after a long discussion he discourage the blessing of marriage between Kiguunda and Wangeci in church and allowing the marriage between Gathoni
and Wangeci to take place.
– Wangeci seem to be enoyed as she want her marriage to be blessed in church so as to facilitate the marriage between her daughter John Muhuuni as she
has the illusion that her daughter will have better life.
– As a result she convice her husband to go to Kioi’s place to tell them that they accept his plan.Kiguundi accept and go to see Kioi the other day.
SCENE II
– At Kioi home, where we see the difference between Kiois home & that of Kiguunda Kio’s home is well furnished TV, sofa set, plastic flowers on the table, radiogram etc.
presence of electric light. On the wall words written CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THIS HOUSE, THE UNSEEN GUEST AT EVERY MEAL, THE SILENT LISTENER TO EVERY
CONVERSATION. This shows that they are Christians. In the house there are Jezebel, Kioi, Ndugire, Hellen, Ikuua and a Waiter.
– Ikuua want to leave the place but before be leaves. They discuss about the insecticide factory that their friends from abroad want to build. They say the
factory should not build at the area where important people live but to the poor people like Kiguunda.
– Ikuua say the land to build factory should be bought from poor people as they sell their land because of laziness.
– He says once the land is bought Kioi should not write his name rather he should write either of his wife or his son John Muhuuni.
– These people seofem to use their wealth in marrying many wives. For instance Ikuua wa Nditika is a polygamist as he has two wives and he has the
intention of having the third one.
– After the departure Ikuua, Kioi tells Ndugire that he has sent his son to Malindi to check the plot he has bought near watamu bay where he wants to
erect a hotel bi
se of tourism the says the hotels are very profitable as there are many tourists from different countries like America, France and German.
– Kioi blaming the workers that they usually demand increases salaries giving reason of paying school fees or having sick people in hospitals.
– We see in this scene the rich are criticising the churches of the poor just because they are run by illiterate people.
– The arrival of Kiguunda and Wangeci at Kioi’s place
– Wangeci is humiliated by the waiter who draws away a tray as she tries to pick up a cup of tea. This shows that at Kioi’s family food is prepared by
considering the number of people (This is western culture)
– Also Kiguunda and Wangeci are given water from the drum while some of it is in the huge jar on the table. This is another humiliation.
– Kiguunda express what brought them there, he says they are read their marriage to be blessed in the church, Kioi’s are so impressed to hear that.
– Kiguunda introduces the issue of economic crises hence he can not afford the expenses Kioi advises him to take the loan promising him to secure the
loan. Kiguunda agrees with the idea hence promises to bring the title – dead next day.
ACT THREE (3)
Scene I
-New outlook at Kiguunda’s place. New plates caps, basins, new dining table with chairs, suitcase etc. On the wall we see words like that of Kioi’s home
-Kiguunda and Wangeci are very happy with the changes and they are determined to go to the church for the blessings of their marriage
-We see Wangeci and Kiguunda are rehearsing for the wedding ceremony, Singing Christian songs.
-During their rehearsal Gathoni arrives weaping claiming that she has jilted by John Muhuuni after impregnated her.
-She tells her parents that she has conceived because John tells her that she cannot marry a girl before being pregnant as he afraid to marry a barren.
-Kiguunda tells Gathoni that, it is what she wanted because she does not consider his advice.
-Wangeci suggests that they should go to see Kioi for the matter and advise him to let children marry first before blessing their marriage.
Scene II
-At Kioi’s place, where we see Ikuua and Kioi are alone in the room busy counting money.
-They also discuss the establishment of the factory. Ikuua suggests that they should buy the land to the poor people and if Kiguunda will accept that it will be good.
-Kioi shows nepotism as he says/ suggests that John Muhuuni should be the director of the factory
-As he says that their sons should practice responsibility “charity begins at home” Kioi’s said.
-After the departure of Ikuua, Kiguunda and Wangeci arrive at Kioi’s place.
-They tell Ahab Kioi wa Kinoru to postpone their marriage blessing instead they should let children (Gathon and John)to marry first as John has impregnated Gathoni.
-Kioi become angry and reject the idea and he says that his son cannot do that as he has been brought up in a Christian way .
-Kioi chases away Kiguunda clamming that he is telling him nonsense. Kiguunda threaten Kioi that he will take the matter before the law but Kioi says it will not help
-Kiguunda take out his sword threaten to kill Kioi if he cannot sign the agreement. Kioi saved by his wife who comes with the gun and orders Kiguunda to drop his sword Kiguunda dropped his sword but when he wants to take it Jazebel fires the bullet in air where Kiguunda fall down.
-It is in this point where we see that Gathoni did not marry John and it is in this point we prove what Njooki was saying that rich people never marry from poor and poor people never marry from the rich.
-It is in this point we see the concept of disillusion of Kiguunda and Wangeci as their illusion did not come true.
Scene III
-At Kiguunda place. After two weeks Kiguunda is away and his home is like as it was the beginning of the play as all the new things he bought were not there expect the picture of Nebuchadnezzar and the words which was written on the wall.
-Wangeci is dejected and Njook is near her trying to comfort her. Gicaamba is shaking his head showing disbelief of what has happened.
In this scene we see how women and girl are being treated.
-Gathoni has been chased away from home by her father something which makes Wangeci uncomfortable. As she says that her daught has gone to be a barmaid which she associate it with being prostitute. Gicaamba advises her not to call a children prostitute as this negative repercussion has been caused by the parents who neglect woman in giving them education. He says women have been neglected
even before colonialism by tradition and customs
-Gicaamba complain that people have completely forgotten the rule played by women from family level to the national level.
-He says women in Kenya fought for independence but many of them died in the forest still they are neglected.
-Njooki says being a housemaid is not a good job hence he consider Gathoni that she is jobless. She also says housemaid is being used by their bosses as their wife when their real wife is away.
-Kiguunda was dismissed from the job after exchanging bad words with Kioi. His and has been sold by the bank to Kioi, Ikuua and whites as he fail to pay back the loan because he engage himself into drinking too much. He sold his furnishes but he never paid back the loan.
-Kiguunda conflict with his wife as the wife is against the habit of drinking. Wangeci attack Kiguunda because of his habit as a result Kiguunda fight with his wife and they are separated by Gicaamba and Njooki.
-Gicaamba advises them to stop fighting as fighting cannot eliminate their problem (this shows that Gicaamba is a wise man) . Instead they should sit and think together the way they can use to solve their problems and think critically who are their real enemies and how to fight against these enemies like exploitation, Poverty, oppression etc.
-Gicaamba insist unity as the only way they can use to eliminate poverty.
He also discourages the habit of drinks so much as they can not solve their problem in that way.
FORM
(i) Symbolism
The title I WILL MARRY WHEN I WANT has been used symbolically to represent the way people especially girls need freedom in different perspectives of life.
For instance the issue of Gathoni’s marriage where by the mother force her to get a husband but Gathoni tells her that she will marry when she wants.
Gathoni “Sorry!
I shall marry when I want
Nobody will force me into it” Page 16
It also symbolize too much freedom that girls want to have which result into negative repercussion.
It also shows the way people are traditional due to ignorance hence they want things to happen as they want.
This refers to the class of exploiters like Koi IKua and the foreigners who use the poor people while paying them very low wages.
This symbolizes the struggle between the superior against inferior are the rich Vs the poor. The sword shows the weakness of the poor while the gun shows the strength of the rich.
-It shows the justification of love between the two
-It also shows the satisfaction and blessings given by the society to the couples
In the play we see the concept of second marriage between Kiguunda & Wangeci at first they refused.This shows that people have freedom in making decision.
The acceptance of the second wedding shows the weakness of the tradition weddings that they are not blessed and traditional customs and norms are not accepted
This symbolizes the acceptance of Neo-colonialism in African societies.
This symbolize unit as it is used to call the oppressed,exploited,humiliated etc so as to unit and struggle against evils.Page 115
Na uchunge mdomo wako” pg 17
(ix)Sayings
These are given intentionally to worn or educate someone
– “ A man brags his own penis however tiny” pg 4
Means that a person should proud his own property however small
– “Many hands make work high” pg 12
This proverb calls for unit hence people should unity to fight against Malpractices
– “An aging hero has no admires” pg 13
Wangeci tells Kiguunda. This means that there is a tendence of neglecting people (hero) who fought for something. For instance those who fought for independence
– “Utakiona cha Mtema Kuni” pg 17
This is a Swahili proverb given to worn or threaten someone
This was uttered by Kiguunda to intimidate his daughters
– “The given does not know when the granary is empty” pg 18
Kiguunda says this to his wife to emphasize the way he is financially. He says he has given all the money to her hence he doesn’t have more money
– “ A flower is robbed of the colours by the fruit it bears!” pg 29
Wangeci tells Kiguunda. As Kiguunda seem to show the dissatisfaction of the fellow Africans as there is nothing new since they have attain independence. This means that it is your son,
relative or fellow people who can help you and not the distance people.
– “If you want to rob a monkey of a baby it is holding you must first through it a handful of peanuts” pg 33
– “ A parent is never nauseated by the mucus from his child’s nose” pg 52
“A she goat suckles its young however deformed
– “Promises do not mean delivery”
Clouds may be in the sky but it does not mean it will rain pg 53
Gicaamba tells Kiguunda & Wangeci
– “Charity begins at home” pg 100
(x)Songs and dances
This play has many songs where by the playwright use various songs for mobilizing people to fight against neo- colonialism. As we see the song in page 4,5,7,8,11,13,22,28,38-39,41-42,46-47,49,57,61,etc
Also these songs are used by the playwright for entertainment like on page 11-13
(xi) Mimicry
This is the skill of someone being able to copy the voice or movement of others. In this play we see this as the way of expressing negative attitude towards something or the way of showing dejection
For instance Kiguunda shows his anger by mimicking the group of singers in pg 10
“The devil must be crushed,
crush him!
For darkness is falling……”
(xii) Satire:
Some of the character has been used in a fun way but intend to give a lesson to the society. For instance in pg. 4 where the drunker sing that he will marry when he wants when all padres are alive. This makes people laugh.Here the playwright want to show the weakness of the poor people that despite of being poor they drink too much instead of working hard
– Also the drinkers is funny as he blames Kiguunda not as Kiguunda does not want to go with him to drink
– Also at the end we see Kiguunda has indulged into the drinking business after selling his properties that he bought from the loan he took from the bank instead of paying back the loan. This
lead to auction of his piece of land
CHARACTER CHARACTERIZATION
i. Kigunda
· The exploited character
· Bad tempered and cruel to his family
· He is Gathoni’s father and wangeci’s husband
· He is a farm labourer who receives low wages
· A drankerd
· A man of contradictions
· He is illiterate and not wise
· He is a funny character who despises women despite his weaknesses he have.
ii. Gicaamba
· He is a factory worker who works for long time and he is paid low wages.
· He is kiguunda’s neighbour and Njooki’s husband
· He is a wise man
· He is a traditionalist hence against new religion
· He is a patriotist and mobilizer as he calls for the people to unit as it is the only weapon for success
· He is constructive man as he always give positive idea.
iii. Wangeci:
· She is Kiguunda’s wife
· A wise woman than her husband
· She force her daughter to get married
· She is also illiterate
· She hates the tendency of drinking so much
· She represents all women experience humiliation from their husband by being bitten and isolated by the system
iv. Gathoni
· She is not educated but eager to be educated
· Unmarried girl
· She does not want to be force into marriage hence she wants freedom in her own affair.
· She is the lover of Muhumi who impregnates her
· She was gilted by John Muhumi as she ended being chased away by her father
· She later becomes a barmaid
· She suffers humiliation of being called a whore or prostitute.
· She represents young generation who want changes after being frustrated with life.
v. Njooki
· She is Gicaamba’s wife
· She is aware of the existence of classes hence she believes that it is very difficult for the rich to Marry from the poor people
· She also represents women who are oppressed
· She is a wise woman
vi. Ahab Kioi wa Kanoru
· He is a wealth person
· He is John’s father and Jezebel husband
· He is Ikuua’s business partner
· An exploiter
· He is a black capitalist as he works for the interest of the white(Hypocrite)
vii. Ikuua wa (Nditika)
· He is Kioi’s business partner
· He also represent the class of black capitalist who exploit fellow Africans
· He is a polygamist
viii. Ndugire
· He is saved and encourages Kigunda and Wangeci to be saved
· He also represent the class of exploiter who collaborate with the foreigners to exploit fellow Africans
· Himself plus Kioi and Ikuua use bible as an instrument to soften fellow Africans so that they can do their evils. Without any protest.
· He is up becoming rich.
CONTENT
i. Exploitation
People like Kigunda and Gicaamba are selling labour power in the plantations of few people like Kioi,Ikuua and the whites and they are paid low wages. This is through the use indigenous like Ikuua and Kioi who act as the middlemen, Landlords and church men. These exploiters link the multinational companies and the Africans
· Gicaamba provide his man power in the factory he don’t even have time to rest but he is paid very little wages.
· Also Kiguunda works in Kioi’s farm but also he is paid low wages.
· These people also use church to exploit people as they demand Kiguunda and Wangeci to have their marriage being blessed as we see that Christian marriage needs a lot of money that’s why Kiguunda takes the loan from the bank to facilitate the ceremony.
· Also poor people are exploited as they are demanded to contribute something for the buildingof church, despite the fact that they are poor.
· Generally we find that in this play churches are used to clear the way for the domination of Neo- Colonialism.
ii. Land Alienation
People like Kiguunda and Gicaamba are alienated from their fertile land. The minority like Kioi and Ikuua own large piece of land and the foreign companies are the only people who own Large and fertile land.
The land has been taken from colonial error and even after independence the land has not yet given back to the owner
Poor people are marginalized and are given piece of land to the areas which are not fertile. As we read from the Kiguunda is having one and a half acre for the whole family.
Also we see in the play that rich people work hard to take even the small land that poor people have. The foreigners wants to establish a project but they want to get a small piece of land from Kiguunda i.e one and half acre.
iii. Awareness
· People like Gicaamba are aware with the existence of exploitation that’s why Gicaamba complains that they work for long duration but they are paid low wages. He says they are paid the amount that cannot even sustain their essential needs.
· Gathoni also is aware that education is very important that’s why she is complaining to her mother for not having sent her to school. Also Gathoni is aware that she has the freedom of selecting her partner, so she knows her right of making decision.
· Also Wangeci is aware on the impact of drinking excessively. That why she tells kingdom to leave that habit, as she knows that they won’t get away (get rid) from the pity of poverty. She knows that many people who used to drink too much they always end up with nothing. This is due to the fact that excessively drinking lead to irresponsibility.
· Not only that but also , Gicaamba is aware on the danger of relying on promises that’s why he advise Kiguunda and Wangeci not to rely on promises as promises does not mean delivery . he tells Kiguunda and his wife that Gathoni and John may not marry because of their class differences .
· Gicaamba is aware on the best way of solving the existing problem. That’s why he says that they need to come together and think deeply so as to identify their real enemy so that they can select the best way to fight against him/her. So Gicaamba calls for unity and patriotism. Hence he uses a song to mobilize his fellow Africans.
iv. Conflicts.
· Conflict between Gathoni and her parents. This is when Gathoni complain about their poor living condition. She complains that she uses rags and the floor as her bed. Also she complain of not being taken to school like her brother instead she is left at home for domestic activities and for picking tea leaves so that she can get money.
· Another conflict is Gathoni Vs her father. This is when Gathoni is back from Mombasa as she tell her parents that she is pregnant. Kiguunda become furious as he claims that Gathoni never listened to his advice.
· Conflict between Gathoni Vs John Muhuuni. This is when John cheats Gathoni to conceive so that he can merry her claiming that he is afraiding of marrying a barren woman. Gathoni accept that but after being pregnant and tries to tell John, he refuses chase Gathoni away and accompany her with insult as he calls her a prostitute
· Conflict between traditionalist Vs Christians. At the beginning we see Kinguunda , Wangeci, Gicaamba and Njooki are against Christianity as Christianity is connected to the whites and they believed that if they accept Christianity is like to accept neo – colonialism. That why Kiguunda chases the group of singers away from his home. He says he doesn’t see the necessity of contributing for harambee to build the church while it is used only once a week.
· Conflict between Kioi’s family and Kiguunda’s family, The first conflict is when Kioi and Ndungire family went to Kiguunda to preach him the word of God and convince her to be Christian. In this case Kiguunda seen to have no interest hence he chases them away.
· The second conflict in this is when John Muhuuni impregnated Gathoni hence Kiguunda and his wife decide to go to Kioi’s place to tell him about their idea to let the children marry first this idea has completely denied by Kioi. This cause Kiguunda to be exasperated hence he decides to pull out his sword to threaten kioi so that he can accept the idea.
Intra- Personal Conflict:
Gathoni
· About the poor living condition
· Of not being taken to school
· After being jilted.
Wangeci
· About obstinate (stubborn) of her daughter
· Also after her daughter being jilted
· About excessive drinking behavior of her husband
Kiguunda
· Unhappy with low wages which makes they live in poor living condition and obstinacy of her daughter.
· Also unhappy with the system who seem to favor rich people even if they are guilty. That why Kiguunda uses his sword
v. Illusion
Gathoni has the illusion that once she get a husband she will have better life but until the end we find that nothing has come as she expects.
Also Wangeci has illusion that the relationship between Gathoni and John Muhuuni will lead to their marriage. She even believes that the visiting of kioi is to talk about the marriage of their children but we see there is nothing like that. She also connect the idea of Christianity as the paving way towards the marriage of their children that means if they accept Christianity it will pave the way of marriage of the two.
Another illusion that Wangeci has is when she believes that Kioi will agree with the idea that they should let the children marry first as John has impregnated Gathoni
vi. Education
· In the play we see that girls are not given chance to education, they are left at home to do domestic activities and to work in forms e.g Gathoni. Girls are not taken to school because of culture influence and poverty of the family. In the play we see that girls are not given equal chances as boys in education. Women are considered as people who are not important in the society. This is gender imbalance in the society.
· In the play we see that education is so important as majority who are illiterate fail to opt for the best way of solving problems in different life perspectives eg Kiguunda
vii. Neo – Colonialism
· Not only Germans, Japanese or Americans who buy large area of Kenyan land for ereacting their factories and dominating major means of production but also we see black imperialist enriching themselves under the umbrella of neo- colonialism for instance Kioi who plan to create tourists hotel in Mombasa but he does not want to be recognized hence he uses the name of his son.
viii. Classes (social stratification)
· Ie the classes of poor represented by Kiguunda and Gicaam Vs that classes of rich represented by Kioi and Ikuua who are in antagonism. This is because the rich use the poor to enrich themselves. Other themes include
ix. Poverty
x. Disappointment
xi. Position of women
xii. Love affairs and
xiii. betrayal
3. POETRY
Selected Poems of East Africa – Institute of Education
POETIC APPRECIATION
Poetic appreciation is a step by step analysis of the features or the elements within a poem
The word appreciating a poem attempts to understand it in detail and therefore enjoy the sounds and purpose, the elements of the poems also differ.
There are many ways of appreciating a poem just as they are very many different elements to be found in different poems.
Since the person appreciating the poem attempts to look in the poems and the success we do not talk about what is not found in the poem rather we are satisfied by the elements within a particular poem
S – Subject matter
P – Purpose
E – Emotions/mood
C – Crafts man ship/technique / style
Can assist as the identify poetic elements in a poem the craftsmanship consist of
S – Structure
L – Language
I – imagery
M – Movement/Rhythm
S – Sound
AFRICA BY DAVID MANDESSI DIOP (1927 – 1960)
Mandessi was born in Bordeaux, France by a Senegalese father and a Cameroonian mother. He was one of the leading lights of Negritude. He published only one book of poetry on which his fame rests. After the independence of Guinea, he went to work there as teacher. He died in a plane crash in 1960 together with his wife. The manuscript of his new book of poetry was also lost in the crash.
AFRICA
Africa my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
On the banks of the distant river
I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
The slavery of your children
Africa tell me Africa
Is this your back that is bent?
This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous son that three young and strong
That tree there
In splendid loneliness amidst white and faded flowers
That is Africa your Africa
That grows again patiently obstinately
And its fruit gradually acquire
The bitter taste of liberty
PHRASE
The poem is about a person who has lived away from his continent (Africa) therefore he does not know it well.
The person laments about suffering of Africans who works like slave and their blood and sweat plus those of their children irrigate the fields. The person compares Africa with an impressive lonely tee in the middle of the white and fade fowlers. The tree(Africa) has produced fruit which has gradually acquired the test of Liberty
THEMES
EXPLOITTION
The persona portrays the exploitation done to the Africans who was treated like slaves because they worked and sweated for their masters to enjoy. For instance in stanza two
“your beautiful……………………
The message we get from this poem is that
All forms of exploitation should be banned in the society
UNITY
We see the essence of unity as the oppressed Africans who decide to mobilize themselves and form the warriors in order to fight for the liberation of their continent for instance in 1st stanza the 2ndverse the persona says
“Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs. The message is that, unity is important to the oppressed so as to end oppression in the society
DEHUMANIZATION
The personal shows humiliation to Africans as the Africans were treated as if they are not human. While they are in their own continent. For example in 3rd stanza verse 1,2,3 and the person says,
“ is this your back that is bent?
This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation.
This back trembling with red scars,
and saying yes to the whip under the midday Sun”.
The message from this theme is that, all people are the same under. The sun so they deserve equal treatment
AWARENESS
This show that the person has realized that though he was not born and grew in Africa still he is an Africa because of the African blood which flows in his vein. As we observe it
in 1st stanza, 5th and 6th verses. The message we get is, “we need to be aware and proud of our origin”.
SACRIFICE
The poet shows sacrifice made by African warriors who were whipped and shed their blood in ancestral savannahs, the savannah where their blood irrigated the fields but they never give up the fight. We observe this in 1st stanza the 2nd verse.
The message we get,
“we need to sacrifice ourselves for the betterment of the society”.
ALIENATION
The poet shows alienation of those who were born and live in foreign countries like the poet himself so these people who are born and grow in Diaspora they find themselves alienated because they do not enjoy the way indigenous do in their home countries in 1st stanza the 5th verse the personal says
“I have never known you”
In this verse we see that the poet he could know his place of his origin and enjoy his home land as the whites do in their home land.
The message from this theme is that “people should remember their place of origin even if they are born and grow in other places which are not the place of their origin”.
LIBERATION STRUGGLE
In this poem we see movement done by the African warriors so as to get rid of the colonial regime. For instance in 4th stan
za the last four verses the person says
“That is Africa your Africa
That grows again patiently obstinately
and its fruit gradually acquire the bitter test of Liberty”
The message from this theme is that, “mobilization, self-sacrifice and until are very important when struggling for liberation in any societ
POETIC DEVICES
Sound devices
i. ALLITERATION
This is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of the words in the same verse. For example in the 2nd stanza the 1st verse
“your beautiful black blood………. “Also in 3rd stanza the 1st verses
“Is this your back that is bent?
This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation”
ii. CONSONANCE
This is when the poet decides to repeat the same or very similar consonant sounds usually at the end of words in the same verse
“Impetuous son that tree young and strong
The sound/Å‹/ is repeated in two words
iii. ASSONANCE
This is the repetition of similar vowel sounds in the same verse. For example the 1st stanza verse 4 in the words “distance” and “on the banks of the distance river”
SENSE DEVICES
SYMBOLISM
The poet uses the words like “red scars to symbolize suffering (oppression which is done to Africans. The 3rd stanza verse 3)
“this back trembling with red scars”
USE OF IMAGERY
Visual image where we see the poet use lonely tree represent Africa
Image of taste, the poet use words like
“the bitter taste of Liberty” this show this reflects the bitter feeling that African warriors had against the colonialist. For instance the last stanza in the last verse
PERSONIFICATION
Africa as a continent is given human character as it seems that the continent speaks like a human being for example in the 2nd stanza the last verse the persona says
“Africa tell me Africa”
Mood of the poem
The mood of the poem can be sad or sympathetic due to exploitation, humiliation, oppression etc done by the colonialists
Tone of the poet
The tone is bitter this is due to the fact that the themes revealed tell about the condition of the oppressed Africa.
THE DYING CHILD
THE DYING CHILD BY FREEMAN PETER LWANDA
A Tanzania poet who worked for the Tanzania Tourist Corporation
The Dying, Child
Thin and red,
Skinny and bald
The boy groans on the ground
Swollen stomach
Full of waste,
Thin arms,
Twitch
As the boy
Fights with files
Over the empty plate
Ten years old
He looks older than ten,
And so small
As he wriggles
Prisoner
Of his unproportioned body,
‘Mother’ shouted the boy
When I grow up
I will carry a gun
And not a pen!
‘My son’ shouted the mother
‘My son” cries the mother
‘You will never live to carry a gun
There is no meat for us
PARAPHRASE
The poem is about a ten year boy who suffers from Kwashiakor caused by Malnutrition, where we see the boy is busy fighting with flies over the empty plate. The boy is thin. Bald red skin, has thing leg and arms .
The boy has swollen stomach which is full of waste which makes the boy groans on the ground because of his imbalanced/proportioned body
We see the boy who is ten years old but he looks older than his real age. The boy has vagence mind hence he tells his mother that when he grows up he will carry a gun and not a pen but the mother shouts to her boy that he will never live to carry a gun as there is no meat for him to make him survive. This shows that the mother is disillusioned.
THEMES
Poverty
The persona shows that the boy is living in extreme poverty to an extent that they cannot afford to buy a balanced diet. The mother tells the boy that he will never live to carry a gun as there is no meat for them. As in stanza two, verses 14 & 16th . he says,
“ you will never live to carry a gun
there is no meat for us”
Also we see the boy is busy competing with the flies over the empty plate. All these are the indicators of poverty. As it is shown in 1st stanza the 10th and 11th verses
“the message we get from this is that, “people should work very hard so as to get enough money to buy balanced diet for healthy of our families”
Classes
In this poem we see that the poet depicts the existence of classes in the society. That is the people who can afford to eat meat. In the 2rd stanza the 15th and 16th verses the mother tells her son that he will never grow up to carry a gun because there is no meat for them “ you will never live to carry a gun there is no meat for us”
The message from the above theme is that, every human being has to eat a balanced diet for good health and longer life. Also classes are not good in the society as they may cause disunity among people within the society
Disappointment
In this poem we see the essence of disappointment as we observe this through the mother who tells her son that he will never live to carry a gun this shows that the mother is disappointed hence she believes that her son will not live longer as they are eating unbalanced diet. In the 2nd stanza the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th verses.
The message we obtain here is that, “we should never accept failure in our lives instead we should fight to the last minute
Awareness
We see that the boy has realized that changes in the society can be brought through the use of gun or by force and not peacefully means or education for example in the 2nd stanza, the 8th, 9th and 10th verses.
Also the awareness of the mother that her only son can not live to carry a gun be he will not live longer.
Irresponsibility
The poet shows irresponsibility of the government which does not show any concern to those people who live under extreme poverty. Hence the citizen are living hopelessly for instance the mother who cries bitterly to her dying son. As we see in 2nd stanza 14-16verses. Also we see irresponsibility show by the mother as she lives her son to fight with flies over the empty plate as in 1st stanza verse 9th up to 10th
“fights with flies over the empty plate”
This is irresponsibility because the mother knows very well the effects of eating with flies
POETIC DEVICES
SENSE DEVICES
Imagery: The poet draws the mental picture so that we see the dying child as the son has thin arms swollen stomach, thin leg and has unproportioned body also we see the image of the groaning and staving child who is fighting with flies over the empty plate due to shortage of food as a result of his poor family
Diction
The choice and arrangement of words in a poem in this poem we see that the poet is real struggling to use words which will effectively convey what the intended to the society, so while reading any poem one need to be very keen in making sense of the words used as they both have exactly meaning and connotations. For example words like “skinny”, “bald” “thin” swollen stomach, “flies” and “pen” they are all used in associate meaning. For example from the poem the word “flies” in the 1st stanza the 9th stanza associate with dirty or rotten
Also the word skinny in the 2nd verse 1st stanza associate with hunger/malnutrition/starring etc
The word “bald” in the 1st stanza 2nd verse associate with absence of balanced diet
The world “pen” in the 2nd stanza the 11 verse associate with learning /knowledge
Again the word prisoner in the 2nd stanza the 6th verse associates with absence of freedom/presence of suffering/torture and many other word in the poem.
SOUND DEVICES
Alliteration
In the 1st stanza the 3rd verse the words “groans” and ground the consonant/g/is repeated. Therefore alliteration is used to show emphasis but also create the rhythm of the poem
‘the boy groans on the ground’
In the 1st stanza the 4th verse the word “swollen “and “stomach” also alliterate because they both begin with consonant sound/s/ This repetition is made intentionally to emphasize the concept of poverty, malnutrition and the suffering of the boy
“swollen stomach
STRUCTURAL DEVICES
Use of stanza
The poem has two stanza. The 1st stanza has 11 verses and the 2rd stanza has 15 verses
Parallelism
In 2nd stanza the 13th and 14th verse are parallel
The verses have similar structure to emphasize the disappointment of the mother who sees the suffering of her dying child
“my son, shouted the mother
My son cries the mother”
Repetition
The word “thin is repeated in the 1st stanza in the 1st, 6th and 7th verses to express the horrible condition of the boy. This repetition helps the poet to evoke the feeling of sympathy towards the referred boy
“Thin and red…
Thin leg
Thin arms”
Dialogue
The poet uses the dialogue between the boy and the mother, this is made to reveal the real situation of the mother and his son. As we see in the 2nd stanza, the 8th , 9th, 10th, 11th, 13th and 15th verses the poet says
“ Mother, shouted the boy
When I grow up
I will carry a gun
And not a pen!
“my son, shouted the mother
my son, cries the mother
“you will never lie to carry a gun
there is no meat for us”
An African Thunderstorm (by David Rubadiri)
– What is the subject matter?
The poem is about the incoming of a certain situation in a village, suddenly and out of nowhere living the people shocked as they wonder about.
– Identify the instances of Alliteration
In the second stanza, the 5th line “wind whistles” in the third stanza the 4th line “whirling wind” in the third stanza the 4th line “whirling wind” in the 2nd line of the 4th stanza “wind whistles” 2nd line of the 1st stanza clouds come.
– Explain the effect of onomatopoeia
Being words which imitate sounds produced by an action, onomatopoeia in this poem occurs “whirling wind” (3rd stanza 4th line) the effect of it is that is emphasized on that is been told and it enhances imagination at large tremble, Rumple….
– Identify and explain the use of imagery
Imagery in the poem is greatly used to explain the incoming of the storm which is said to be hurrying with the wind, here and there like a plague of locusts showing its speed like a mad man chasing nothing its direction.
“Pregnant clouds” showing the shape of the clouds which are likely to be heavy and ready to release its weight anytime. “Clothes wave like tattered flags expressing” expressing the situation of the women’s clothes due to the wind direction.
– Show and explain the significance of personification in the poem
Personification refers to the process of giving non- human beings human traits. In the poem “pregnant clouds” (2nd stanza,1st line) clouds are said to be pregnant representing their current state of expansion.
The significance of personification in the poem is that it brings a dramatic expression and makes the poem interesting to convey the mood of any kind meant by the poet. Also personification makes it easy to relate (the poet idea and the object personified).
Comment on the structure of poem
The structure of the poem involves four stanzas each with a different number of lines, 1st stanza has nine lines, six lines for the second, eleven for the third and seven for the fourth.
The lines are of different sizes arranged in any irregular manner. Without a rhyme scheme. The poem is likely to follow modern way for writing poems.
Explain the use the similes
Similes refer to a figure of speech that involves comparing of two dissimilar things using the words like or as. In the poem similes are found
Here and there “like a plague of locusts this is meant to express the movements direction of the wind as it approaches the village.
clothes wave like tattered flags this represents the situation of the women’s clothes due to the winds showing how they were humiliated.
8. Why do mothers hurry in and out?
Due to the fear they have because of the approaching storm, the wind and noise of thunder. What could possibly happen to them and their children?
Why do the children cry with delight?
Children are naturally always pleased to experience something interesting, the wind, and thunder was thought to be of great pleasure to them so they cry with delight, there not aware of the danger.
10. Explain the deeper meaning of the poem
The poem is about the incoming of colonialism in Africa from the west “clouds come hurrying with the wind”, this represent the colonialists rushing to Africa for their needs such as raw materials market and land. Turning sharply her and there like a plague of locusts. His involves the great number or influx of the colonialists in Africa, like a madman chasing nothing, knowing the potentials of the territory.
“Pregnant clouds”, the colonialists are seen to be excited and and ready to exploit any chance they get in Africa. The whole second stanza show how determined they were and also proved to the evil “like dark sinister wings” wind whistles by using force and measures such as congest land alienation forced labour and others for the aim of getting what they want.
The third stanza explains the reaction of the nature of native of Africa to the incoming situation, that is colonialism filed with fear, women dart about in and their children screaming with delight, the fact that they are more or less pleased to see and experience new people and probably new rules in their villages. There said to move madly posing confusion among them toward the situation
In the whole situation, the last stanza shows how colonialism exploited and humiliated African clothes wave like tattered flags due to the wind which in this case is colonialism. They were put under poor working conditions as slaves paid low wages and more.
Paraphrase the poem
The poem an African thunderstorm entails of the coming of a storm in a village, originating from the west coming in a hurry up and down, here and there, the wind whirls and is said to move like a madman chasing nothing because its fast and moves randomly.
Clouds during the storm filled up and ready to rain gather around, the wind blows making trees bend, In the village, children scream with pleasure as their mothers are filled with fear they move in and out. Their clothes are blown by the wind exposing their bodies’ flashes of thunder strike.
Assonance, identify and comment on the use repetition of value sounds without regard to the preceded consonant sounds. Eg. Here and There
13. Consonance, show and comment on its use final consonant sounds are agreed but the vowels that precede them differ.
E.g. ……..about,……….out
YOUR PAIN (by ARMANDO GUEBUZA)
Your pain
Yet more my pain
Shall suffocate oppression
Your eyes
Yet more my eyes
Shall be speaking of revolt
Your scars
Yet more my scars
Will be remembering the whip
My hands
Yet more your hands
Will be lifted fully armed
My strength
Yet more you strength
Shall overcome imperialism
My blood
Yet more your blood
Shall irrigate our victory
ABOUT THE POEM
Your pain is the poem which was written during the struggle for independence.It was written by the present President of Mozambique (Armando Guebuza).
The little of the poem matches with the content of the poem as we see the persona encourage other members of the society to take action/part in the struggle for liberation. The pain that the persona repeats every time is the commitment that he asks this fellows so that their straggle can be successful.
The type of the poem
This poem is didactic as it gives instructions to the reader. The poem teaches readers what to do so as to win in their struggle.
The language in the poem
Armand Guebaza has used the standard and understood language as the choice of words match with the content of the poem.
He has also used some figures of speech as follow
· Personification
This has been used for artistic affect of the poem as we see that the inanimate things have given attributes to act as human being. The person says
“Say your pain……
Shall suffocate appression”
Also in 3rd stanza
“Your sears
Yet more sears
Will be remembering the whip”
So scars have been given the ability to act as human being
· Symbolism
This poem is full of symbols
Scars symbolize suffering/ humiliation
Hands/strength symbolize unity.
Blood is symbolize sacrifice.
Repetition
This is done for the purpose of showing emphasis to what the poet is trying to communicate; in this poem we see the repetition of the phrase
“Yet more……” in very stanza. In this repetition the poet wants to mobilize his kinsmen to offer total commitment for their liberation straggle
Sometimes poet repeats so as to catch the music purposes
Rhyme
The rhyming Patten of the poem is regular to the large extent. The regularity of this poem is when we see the repetition of similar words in first two verses of each stanza
For example.
…………..pain
………….. pain
………….. eyes
……………eyes
…….. ……scars
……………scars etc
So the rhyming pattern of this poem is aab, ccd, cce
Due to this pattern, the poem sounds very musical.
Alliteration
We see alliteration in this poem as we observe the repetition of similar consonant sounds in one verse at the beginning of word. For instance
“Your pain
Yet more my pain”
If you observe the poem you will realize that the consonant sound/m/is repeated. This also catch the musical feature of the poem.
POSSIBLE THEMES
There are many issues talked in the poem,some of them are as follow
· Rising awareness/consciousness
The poet rises awareness to his follows by revealing the real situation in which they are. The poet makes, his people aware of the situation so that they can take action hence succeed in their fighting. As we read in the second stanza,
“Your eyes
Yet more my eyes
Shall be speaking of revolt”
Here the poet wants his fellow to open their eyes and see the real situation and by seeing them they can be away of what is prevailing.
· Lack of humanity
In this poem we see words likes “scars” and “whip” which gives the evidence that there is humiliation. These words show that people were whipped as if they are animal hence experienced severe pain. This situation angers the persona and that is why he decides to mobilize his fellows to fight against humiliation. This can be proved form the following verses,
“Yours scars
Yet more my scars
Will be remembering the whip”
This is the indicator of inhumanity and torture the people experienced.
· Oppression
In the first stanza we see the essence of oppression as the person says.
“Your pain
Yet more my pain
Shall suffocate oppression”
This stanza shows that people are oppressed so now they want to start the movement against oppression.
· Struggle against imperialism
We see the issue of imperialism as in stanza five the personal says;
“My strength
Yet more your strength
shall overcome imperialism “
In this we observe that the persona wants his people to come together and unite so that they can uproot imperialism or colonialism.
· Sacrifice
This is another issue we get from this poem as the personal want this people to sacrifice themselves for their freedom. In the last stanza the poet says
“My blood
Yet more your blood
Shall irrigate our victory “
The relevance of the poem
The poem still relevant to our country today as we still need unity among us so that we can reach our goals. For instance w
e need unity so that we can boost our economy; we also need freedom against neo-colonialism. There are good number of problems that we have in our society today which real need cooperation among us so that we overcome them.
SHALL COMPARE THEE TO A SUMMER DAY
Shall i compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate,
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summers lease hath all too short a date.
Sometimes too hot the eye of heaven shines,
An often of his gold complexion dimmed,
And every fair from fair sometimes declines.
By change or nature changing course untrimmed.
But they eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession on that fair thou oust
Nor shall death drag thaw wanders in this shade
When in external lines to time thaw grows
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see
As long as lives this and this gives life to thee
Questions
1. What is the subject matter of the poem?
2. Identify the main theme of the poem
3.Comment the mood of the poet
4. Comment on the rhyme scheme.
5.What type of the poem is that?
Answers
Subject matter
The subject matter of the poem is love where by the poet talks about his feelings towards a woman, she is compared with a summer’s day, she is more lovely and temperature with a summer’s day, she is more lovely and temperate. In the two last lines (couplet) the poet says so long as men can breathe or eyes can see.
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see meaning so long as life, goes on and many shall pass the woman will never be compared with another.
2. The main theme of the poem is LOVE
The poem is talking about love. The poet has love feelings towards a woman who he describes as the most beautiful and lovely woman. He compares her to summers day. And whatever happens, life
goes in but she will always be the best.
3. The poet is in romantic mood as he expresses his feeling towards a woman
4. Rhyme scheme
abab, cdcd, efef,gg
5. Spencerian sonnet
This sonnet combines the Italian and the Shakespearean poem, it has three quatrains and a couplet but it has linking rhymes among the quainttrains. The Spenserian sonnet rhymes schema is ababa bcbc ee e.g. however those sonnets are very rare.
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